It appears that the new subbing arrangements for Trinity Mirror's national titles are suffering from - how shall I put this politely? - teething troubles.

The outsourcing of subbing work to Howden in Yorkshire has proved to be less than a success. So there have been panic calls to freelance subs to see if they might be available for work from next Thursday (the supposed cut-off day that should have marked the end of much in-house subbing at Canary Wharf).

Reports reaching me suggest that the work done by subs at the Press Association's Howden base has not been considered at all good.

I am reliably informed that an audit of features material coming back from Howden showed that 80% was regarded by Daily Mirror executives as "unsubbed" or "in need of revision."

The remaining 20% was considered be no more than average or acceptable. To say it wasn't up to scratch is an understatement, one staff insider told me.

So, in the short term at least, Trinity's management have been forced into a u-turn.

An angry member of staff told me: "We are terribly depressed here. It seems that there is no longer any chance of the Mirror carving out an identity of its own as a progressive popular paper.

"From being an imitation Sun, it is now becoming an imitation Star."

Several high-level staff are also leaving. Jon Moorhead, the Mirror's associate editor, is departing for The Sun.